Gatley Park

Gatley Park is a 17th-century country house in Aymestrey built with brick walls, stone trim, and a distinctive central chimney featuring nine octagonal shafts. The structure follows a square plan with a two-storey main block and later wing additions extending to the sides.

The house was built in the 1630s for Sir Sampson Ewer, a local landowner. Between 1894 and 1907, major extensions and restoration work were carried out under architect J D Coleridge, giving the building much of its present character.

The name comes from Old English roots referring to a clearing belonging to a family line. Over time, locals have understood this place as a genteel family estate where the surrounding grounds reflect the tastes and priorities of its successive owners.

The house sits in a rural setting and is best reached by car. The surroundings are quiet and open with fields and woodland, so plan for a leisurely visit with time to walk the grounds and take in the surroundings.

The entrance features a projecting porch with pierced stone strapwork detailing and a segmental arch, a uncommon design choice for houses of this period. Inside, original oak paneling from the 1600s lines the rooms, offering a rare look at how wealth was expressed through interior woodwork in that era.